Patio chair fan assembly

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

The disclosure relates to fans and more particularly pertains to a new fan for cooling a user who is sitting on patio furniture.

The prior art relates to fans. Fans are commonly used in both indoor and outdoor spaces to provide increased airflow and to cool down users. The prior art discloses portable fans that the user can carry with them on the go. Such portable fans can be particularly useful when sitting outside in hot temperatures. For example, a user may bring a portable fan to the beach, or a sporting event, to provide some relief from the heat of the summer sun. At the beach or the sporting event, the user might rest in a lawn chair or on other patio furniture. The user typically needs to hold the portable fan themselves, which can be inconvenient if the user is trying to engage in other activities requiring the use of the user's arms or hands. Thus, there is a need in the art for a portable fan that can be attached to patio furniture for cooling the user while the user rests in the furniture.

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a chair having a plurality of support sections. Each support section of the plurality of support sections has an opening. A fan is removably couplable to the chair. The fan is aligned with the opening in a selectable one of the plurality of support sections wherein the fan is configured to direct air through the opening in the selectable one of the plurality of support sections. The fan further comprises a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and an interior space. A power source is positioned in the interior space. A processor is electrically coupled to the power source. A rotational motor is positioned in the interior space. The rotational motor is electrically coupled to the processor wherein the processor actuates the rotational motor. A plurality of fan blades is positioned in the interior space. The plurality of fan blades is coupled to the housing. The plurality of fan blades is mechanically coupled to the rotational motor wherein actuation of the rotational motor rotates the plurality of fan blades. A plurality of cutouts extends into the rear wall and outwardly through the front wall. The plurality of cutouts is aligned with the plurality of fan blades wherein rotation of the plurality of fan blades is configured to direct air inwardly through the plurality of cutouts positioned within the rear wall and outwardly through the plurality of cutouts positioned within the front wall.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular tothereof, a new fan embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeralwill be described.

As best illustrated in, the patio chair fan assemblygenerally comprises a chairhaving a plurality of support sections. Each support section of the plurality of support sectionshas a plurality of openings. In embodiments, each support section of the plurality of support sectionsincludes at least one opening. The plurality of support sectionsmay include a seatand a back rest.

The seatmay further comprise a perimeter edgeand a plurality of crossbarsthat is coupled to and extends between opposing lateral sides of the perimeter edge. Each crossbar of the plurality of crossbarsis spaced from an adjacent crossbar of the plurality of crossbarsto define the plurality of openingswithin the seat. The back restmay be coupled to the perimeter edgeof the seat.

The back restmay further comprise a peripheral edgeand a plurality of rodsthat is coupled to and extends between opposing lateral ends of the peripheral edge. Each rod of the plurality of rodsis spaced from an adjacent rod of the plurality of rodsto define the plurality of openingswithin the back rest.

A fanis removably couplable to the chair. The fanis aligned with at least one opening of the plurality of openingsin a selectable one of the plurality of support sectionswherein the fanis configured to direct air through the at least one of the plurality of openingsin the selectable one of the plurality of support sectionsto cool a user who is sitting on the chair.

The fanmay further comprise a housinghaving a front wall, a rear wall, and a side wallthat is coupled to and extends between the front walland the rear wallto define an interior space. The side wallmay have a top endand a bottom end.

A power sourceis positioned in the interior space. The power sourcemay comprise a battery. The battery may be rechargeable.

A processoris positioned in the interior space. The processoris electrically coupled to the power sourceso that the power sourcecan power the processor.

A rotational motoris positioned in the interior space. The rotational motoris electrically coupled to the processorwherein the processoractuates the rotational motor.

A plurality of fan bladesis positioned in the interior space. The plurality of fan bladesis coupled to the housing. For example, the plurality of fan bladesmay be coupled to at least one of the front walland the rear wall. The plurality of fan bladesis mechanically coupled to the rotational motorwherein actuation of the rotational motorrotates the plurality of fan blades. Rotation of the plurality of fan bladesis configured to direct air outwardly through the housing. For example, rotation of the plurality of fan bladesmay be configured to direct air outwardly through the front wallof the housing.

A plurality of cutoutsextends through the housing. The plurality of cutoutsis generally aligned with the plurality of fan blades. For example, the plurality of cutoutsmay extend into the rear walland outwardly through the front wallwherein rotation of the plurality of fan bladesis configured to direct air inwardly through the plurality of cutoutspositioned within the rear walland outwardly through the plurality of cutoutspositioned within the front wall. In another example, rotation of the plurality of fan bladesmay be configured to direct air outwardly through the plurality of cutoutspositioned within the rear walland outwardly through the plurality of cutoutspositioned within the front wall.

The plurality of cutoutsmay be centrally positioned on the front walland the rear wall. Each cutout of the plurality of cutoutsmay be spaced from an adjacent cutout of the plurality of cutouts. Each cutout of the plurality of cutoutsmay be triangular wherein the plurality of cutouts is arranged in a circle around the plurality of fan blades.

A switchmay be electrically coupled to the processorwherein actuation of the switchsignals the processorto actuate the rotational motor. The switchmay be positioned on the top endof the side wallof the housing. The switchmay comprise a button that signals the processorto either actuate or deactivate the rotational motor.

A solar panelmay be electrically coupled to the power sourceto transfer power to the power source. The solar panelmay be mounted to the top endof the side wall, where the solar panelwill be exposed to sunlight. The solar panelmay be spaced from the switchso that the user does not block the solar panelfrom the sunlight when the user is actuating the switch.

A charging portmay be electrically coupled to the power source. The charging portis generally configured to receive a power cablefor transferring power to the power source. The charging portmay be inset into the top endof the side walland exposed within the top endof the side wall. For example, the charging portmay be positioned adjacent to the switch. The charging portmay be a universal serial bus port.

A plurality of hooksmay extend outwardly from the housingwherein the plurality of hooksis configured to engage the selectable one of the plurality of support sectionsof the chairto removably couple the fanto the chair. Each hook of the plurality of hooksmay be curved inwardly toward the front wallof the housingwherein the front wallof the housingis positioned adjacent to the selectable one of the plurality of support sectionswhen the fanis coupled to the chair.

A first pairof the plurality of hooksmay be positioned on the top endof the side wallof the housingof the fan. The first pairof the plurality of hooksmay further comprise a first hookthat is positioned adjacent to a junction between the top endand a first lateral endof the side wallof the housing. For example, the first hookmay be positioned proximate to the solar panel. A second hookof the first pairof the plurality of hooksmay be positioned adjacent to a junction between the top endand a second lateral endof the side wallof the housing. For example, the second hookmay be positioned proximate to the charging port.

A second pairof the plurality of hooksmay be positioned on the bottom endof the side wallof the housingof the fan. The second pairof the plurality of hooksmay be aligned with the first pairof the plurality of hooksacross the housing. The second pairof the plurality of hooksmay further comprise a primary hookthat is aligned with the first hookof the first pairof the plurality of hooks. The primary hookmay be positioned adjacent to a junction between the bottom endand the first lateral endof the side wallof the housing. A secondary hookof the second pairof the plurality of hooksmay be aligned with the second hookof the first pairof the plurality of hooks. The secondary hookmay be positioned adjacent to a junction between the bottom endand the second lateral endof the side wallof the housing.

Each hook of the plurality of hooksmay further comprise a base endthat is coupled to the side wallof the housing. An armmay be coupled to and extending outwardly from the base end. The armmay further comprise a straight portionthat is positioned adjacent to the base end. A terminal portionmay be parallel to the straight portion. The terminal portionis generally spaced from the straight portionwherein one of the perimeter edgeof the seatand the peripheral edgeof the back restis positionable between the straight portionand the terminal portionof each hook of the plurality of hooks. An arcuate portionis generally coupled to and extends between the straight portionand the terminal portion. The arcuate portionmay have an outer edgeand an inner edge. The outer edgemay be convexly arcuate between the straight portionand the terminal portion. The inner edgemay be concavely arcuate between the straight portionand the terminal portion.

The armof each hook of the plurality of hooksmay be rounded, as shown in. Alternatively, the armof each hook of the plurality of hooksmay be squared, as shown in. The shape and dimensions of the plurality of hooksmay vary wherein the shape of the plurality of hooksis configured to facilitate the plurality of hooksin engaging the selectable one of the plurality of support sectionsof the chairto removably couple the fanto the chair. In some alternative embodiments, each hook of the plurality of hooksmay comprise a shackle or a clip, such as the carabinershown in. Each hook of the plurality of hooksmay comprise a rigid material that is configured to maintain a shape of the plurality of hooks.

A plurality of sleevesmay be coupled to the plurality of hooks. Each sleeve of the plurality of sleevesis generally positioned on a respective hook of the plurality of hooks. Each sleeve of the plurality of sleevesmay comprise a resiliently compressible material that is configured to cushion the user from the rigid material of the respective hook of the plurality of hookswhen the user is sitting in the chair. The resiliently compressible material may further comprise a polymer material that is configured to increase friction between the respective hook of the plurality of hooksand the chair. The increased friction from the polymer material may stabilize or retain a position of the fanrelative to the selectable one of the plurality of support sections.

A pair of cordsmay couple the first pairof the plurality of hooksto the second pairof the plurality of hooks. Each cord of the pair of cordsmay comprise a resiliently deformable material wherein each cord of the pair of cordsis stretchable to extend a distance between the first pairof the plurality of hooksand the second pairof the plurality of hooks. The pair of cordsmay be positioned within the interior spaceof the housing.

The pair of cordsmay further comprise a first cordextending between the first hookof the first pairof the plurality of hooksand the primary hookof the second pairof the plurality of hooks. The first cordmay be aligned with the first lateral endof the side wallof the housing. A second cordmay extend between the second hookof the first pairof the plurality of hooksand the secondary hookof the second pairof the plurality of hooks. The second cordmay be aligned with the second lateral endof the side wallof the housing.

A plurality of groovesmay extend into the rear wallof the housing. Each groove of the plurality of groovesis generally positioned proximate to a respective hook of the plurality of hookswherein each groove of the plurality of groovesis configured to releasably retain the respective hook of the plurality of hooksagainst the rear wall. The resiliently deformable material of the pair of cordsmay be stretchable wherein the pair of cordsis configured to extend the distance between the first pairof the plurality of hooksand the second pairof the plurality of hookswherein each hook of the plurality of hooksis positionable within a respective groove of the plurality of grooves.

For example, a first groovemay be positioned proximate to the first hook. A second groovemay be positioned proximate to the second hook. A third groovemay be positioned proximate to the primary hook. A fourth groovemay be positioned proximate to the secondary hook.

A standmay be removably couplable to the fanwherein the standretains the fanin an upright position when the standis coupled to the fan. For example, the standmay comprise a lower panel. The lower panelis generally planar. The lower panelmay be rectangular. A peripheral panelmay be coupled to and extend upwardly from the lower panel. The peripheral panelmay have a front surface, a rear surface, and a pair of lateral surfaces. The first lateral endand the second lateral endof the side wallof the fanmay be parallel to the pair of lateral surfacesof the standwhen the standis coupled to the fan. An upper panelmay be coupled to the peripheral paneldistally to the lower panel. The upper panelmay be rectangular. The upper panelmay have a width that is less than a width of the lower panelwherein the front surfaceand the rear surfaceof the peripheral panelare angled extending inwardly toward one another between the lower paneland the upper panel.

A slotmay extend through the upper panel. The slotmay be rectangular. The slotgenerally has a size that is complementary to a size of the fanwherein the fanis positionable in the slotto couple the standto the fan. For example, one of the top endand the bottom endof the fanmay be positionable within the slotwherein the standis configured to retain the fanin the upright position.

In use, the fancan be hung from the selectable one of the plurality of support sections. For example, the fanmay be hung from either the seator the back rest. In some embodiments, a first fancan be hung from the seatand a second fancan be hung from the back rest. The rotational motormay be actuated, for example by the switch, to direct air into the housingthrough the plurality of cutoutsin the rear walland outwardly through the plurality of cutoutsin the front wall. The air movement caused by rotation of the plurality of fan bladescan cool the user who is sitting in the chair. Alternatively, the fanmay be positioned within the stand, for example next to the chair. When the plurality of hooksis not in use, each hook of the plurality of hookscan be releasably retained by a respective groove of the plurality of groovesextending into the rear wallof the fan.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.